“Thank god that Congressman Scalise as majority whip has a security detail… Who knows what might have happened if they were not there to take down the gunman,” he said.

The gunman has been identified as James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois. Although law enforcement has not yet confirmed a motive, details of Hodgkinson’s apparent political views have emerged, including volunteer work for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.

Sanders has issued a statement calling the shooting a sickening and despicable act.

“Real change can only come about through nonviolent action, and anything else runs against our mostly deeply held American values,” he said.

Several lawmakers expressed concern about the heated rhetoric and lack of civility that have typified American politics in recent months.

“I just think people should step back and stop the name-calling back and forth,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Although he emphasized he is not placing responsibility on anyone except the shooter, he did call for the president to set a more nonpartisan example for the country.

“I don’t blame this incident on any political figure…but I do think the president could set a more embracing, softer tone to try to bring people together,” he said.

Town halls in members’ home districts have been particularly tense at times this year, but Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said he has no intention of ratcheting up security for a forum he is holding this weekend.

“If we over-militarize our own presence in our communities, it creates greater detachment between those who are serving and those that we are intended to serve,” he said.

Jenkins decried the dangerous “toxic environment” the country is living in.

“I don’t know what his motivation, what his hate was, but clearly he was there to kill,” he said.

Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., acknowledged deep ideological divisions, but condemned any act of violence driven by those differences.

“Violence is never the answer,” he said.

Costa hopes the tragedy will spur some changes in the national political dialogue.

“It just all reminds us that we’ve got to lower the rhetoric and ensure that civility remains a part of our democratic debate and our process,” Costa said.